Knob for snap switches



Dec. 8, 1925- F. P. GATES KNOB FOR SNAP SWITCHES Filed Jan. 16. 1924 Patenta-:d Dec, 8, 1925..

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

FREDERIC J?. GATES, OF WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNGR TO THE FULLER- G-ATES COMPANY, OF HARTFURD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPOBATION OF CONNECTICUT.

KNOB FOR SNAP SWI'I'CHES.

Application filed January 16, 1924. Serial No. 686344.

To all 'whom it may camera.-

Be it known that I, FREDERIG P. GA'rns, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of West Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented new and improved Knobs for Snap switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more especially to that construction of a knob whereby it is operatively connected with the actuating mechanism of a snap switch, and an object of my invention, among others, is the production of a knob having simple 'and efficient means for accomplishing such result.

One form of device embodying my invention and in the Construction and use of which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may be attained, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a View in section through my improved knob on a plane denoted by the dotted line 1--1 of Figure 4.

Figure 2 is a similar view on a plane denoted by the dotted line 2-2 of Figure 4.

Figure 3 is a bottom View of my improved knob with the bottom plate removed and with parts broken away to show Construction.

Figure 4- is a bottom View of the knob with the bottom and attaching plates removed and with parts broken away to show construction. i Figure 5 is a view in elevation of the knob with the bottom plate removed and with parts broken away to show the manner of securing the attaching plate.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the attaching plate.

The invention herein set torth provides a switch knob having special means for securing thei-eto bottom and attaching plates employed to altin and connect the knob to the mechanism of a snap switch, in the drawings herein the numeral 8 indicating a knob that may be of any desired shape and material and having the usual indicating point 9 adapted to register with'indicating words or characters to dcnote the positions of the conducting elements of the switch. This knob has a hole extending inwardly from its under surface, the inner portion 10 of this hole being preferably of non-circular shape, and the outer portion 11 of the hole being prete'ably round. Grooves 12 are formed on diametrically opposite sides of this hole, extending lengthwise thereof, and locking recesses 13 are formed at the inner ende of the grooves, the locking recesses being of a width greater than the width of said groove.

An attaching plate 14 is provided with ,arms 15 adapted to be located in the grooves 12, said arms terminating in looking fingers 16 adapted to enter the looking recesses 13. The attaching plate is provided with a central opening and also with an aperture 17 to receive the spring tensioning finger common to the mechanism of a snap switch, and in a manner that will be readily understood.

Fastening clips 18 project from the attaching plate into openings 19 in a bottom plate 20, there being preferably two of said clips arranged on diametrically opposite sides of the opening in the plate. This bottom plate is preferably composed of fiber of any suitable kind and the clips are bent over, as shown in Figure 1, to secure the bottom and attaching plates together, and an aperture is formed in the bottom plate to register with the aperture in the attaching plate, the spring tensioning finger of the switch mechanisn projecting through both of said apertures in a manner that will be readily understood. i

A spring supporting plate 22 is located in the outer portion 11 of the hole in the knob, this plate having projections 23 extending into the grooves 12, and a spring 24 is seated on said plate, the inner end of said spring thrusting against the head 25 of a connection 26 for securing the knob 8 to the spindle 27 of the switch mechanism. This connection projects through the bottom and attaching plates and has a bearing fit in a hole in the center of the bottom plate, a threaded hole 28 is made in the connection to fit the screw threaded end of the spindle 27, and the head 25 is of non-circular shape corresponding to the non-circular shape of the inner portion 10 of the hole in the knob, so that the knob may be moved outwardly independently of the connection 26 and against the tension of the spring 24:.

In assembling the parts the connection 26 with the spring 24 therein is inserted in the hole in the knob, the plate 22 is placed in position, as shown in Figures l, 2 and 5 of the drawings, and the attaching plate 14 with the arms 15 thereon in the position shown in na Figures l 5 and 6 of the drawings is located with said arins opposite the grooves 12, which arms are then bent, as by the use of a suitable tool, into said groove, and as shown in Figures l and 2 ot the drawings. The parts are thus Secured in place and the bottom plate may then he secured by the clips 18, or such bottom plate may be thus Secured before the attaching plate is engaged with the hnob.

To secure the hnob to the spindle 27 the connection 26 is engaged with the screw threaded end ot said spindle, in which position the end ot the spring teneioning finger ot' the switch niechanisin will be spaced a slight distance treni the under side ot' the bottom plate. As the hnob is turned to turther engage the connection with the screw threaded end ot the spindlc, the end ot said spring tensioning nger will eve'tually be pressed against the bottom plate, and n order to perinit the connection to he screwed 'down the end of the spring` tensioning finger is prevented from entering its aperture in the attaching and bottom plates by pulling the knob outwardly on the connection 26 and against the tension of the spring 24, until said connection has been enga 'ed sui'liciently withthe threaded end of the spindle, after which the spring tensioning finger will be permitted to engage within its apertures in the attaching and bottoin plates and also in the knob, and *force upon the knob being released the spring 24: will press the knob to its seat on the head 25 and cause the spring tensioning finger to enter said apertures. To remove the hnob froni the spindle the forner is pulled outwardb against the tension of the spring until the spring tensioning finger is removed froni its agertures and the knob is then turned to unscrew it 'froni the spindle the pull upon the lnob being retained to prevent the spring tensioning finger from entering its apertures during this unscrewing operation.

This operation of securing the knob in place and ot removing it is not new, the inventon residing in novel construction and a'rrangement of the parts that, while different treni prior devices, yet permits this old operation oi attaching and removing the knob.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes l have described the principles ol' operation ot my invcntion, together with the de vice which I now consider to represent the best einbodiment thereot'; but I desire to have it understood that the device shown is only illustrative, and that the invention may be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set out.

I claim:

l. A switch hnob having a hole therein, inea hnob to a switch spindle, two plates of different material on the under surface ot the l noh, means tor securing said plates to the knoh, and means 'tor securing said plates to gether.

A switch hnoh having a hole therein with a locking recess in the wall ot said hole, means tor attaehing said lcnob to a switch spindle, and a plote located on the under side oi said knob and surrounding the low er end otthe opening and having an ariu with a looking iinger thcreon located in said recess to secure said plate to the hnob.

3. A swi'ch knob having a hole therein with groove in the wall c'i' said hole and a loclzii 3' recess 'opening into said groove, means 'for attaching said hnoh to a switch spindle and a plate located on the under side and erteriorly of said knob and having an arin to be located in said groove and a looking linger to be located in said recess to secure said plate to the knob.

4:. A switch knob having a hole therein with a looking recess in the wall ot said hole, means tor attaching said hnob to a switch spindle, and a plate located on the under side and exteriorly oi' said knob and having a bendable arin with a looking finger thereon whereby 'said arm may be bentto locate said finger in said looking recess to secure said plate to the knob.

5. A switch knob having a hole therein with a looking recess in the wall of said hole, means tor' attaching said knob to a switch spindle, plates located underneath said knoh, and neans for 'seem-ing said plates together, one of said plates having an arin bordering a 'central opening with a locking finger thereon located in said recess to secure seid plates to the knob.

6. A switch lznob having a hole therein with a lociing recess in the wall ot said hole, neans 'for attaching said knob to a switch spindle, plates located underneath said knob, ineans tor securing said plates together, there being a centi-;al opening in the inner plate and an arm projecting tron -the wall ot' the inner plate opening an having a looking finger located in said reccss to secure said plates to the knob.

7. A switch knob having a hole therein with a groove in the wall ot said hole and a looking recess opening into said groove uieaus tor attaching said knob to a switch spindle, plates located underneath said hnob, interlocking connections tor securing said plates together, and an arin projecting froni the inner plate to be located in said groove, said arin having a looking finger to be located in said recess to secure said plates to the knob.

8. A switch knob having a hole therein, means within said hole 'for attaching the knob to a switch spindle, two plates on the 'within said hole for at'taching the under 'surface ot the knob, neans for securing said plates to the knoh and a clip on one of said plates projecting through an opening in the other plate to secure said plates together.

9. A switch knob having a hole theren, means within said hole for uttaching the knob to a switch spndle, two plates on the under surface of the knob, a clip on the inner plate projecting through an opening in the outer plate to secure said plates together, and means for securing said pla'cs to said knob.

10. A switch knob having a hole therein With a looking recess in the Wall of saicL hole, means for attaching said knob to a switch spndle, two plates located underneath said knob, one of which plates is an attaching plate, an arm projectng from said attachng plate and having a looking finger to be located in said looking recess to secure said plote to said knob, and a clip projecting from said attaching plate through an opening in the other plate to secure said plates together.

FREDERIC P. GATES 

